Ozone producing apparatus



Sept. 21, 1937. E L 2,093,619

OZONE PRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1935 V 6 Q0 33 5 5] 39 2] as- A t n \Jg Patented Sept. 21, 1937 PATENT OFFICE OZONE PRODUCING APPARATUS Rae R. Powell, Maywoocl, Ill., assignor to The Electroaire Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 19, 1935, Serial No. 41,228

1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for producing ozone. More particularly the invention relates to that type of apparatus which is adapted to produce ozone for air purifying and other purposes and comprises a plurality of horizontally extending, laterally spaced generating units each of which consists of (1) a dielectric in the form of a glass tube; (2) a negative electrode in the form of a cylindricallyshaped piece of sheet metal which is disposed within and e tends longitudinally of the dielectric and engages the inner face of the latter; and (3) a positive electrode in the 'form of a pair of semi-cylindrical, sheet metal plates which have a plurality of instruck, V-shaped projections, are clamped around the dielectric and operate when electrical current or energy is supplied thereto to form ozone as the result of the brush discharge around the points of the projections.

One object of the invention is to provide an ozone apparatus of this type which is an improvement upon previously designed apparatus of the same general character by reason of the fact that it includes a clamping structure which serves to hold the generating units in laterally spaced relation and at the same time operates conjointly and releasably to hold around the dielectrics the semi-cylindrical, projection-equipped plates which constitute the positive electrodes of the units.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ozone apparatus of the last mentioned type and character in which the clamping structure consists of a pair of superposed frames which have semi-cylindrical, oppositely facing, complemental seats for the generating units and are clamped together by means of bolts which permit of an adjustment of the clamping pressure of the frames on the projection equipped plates 0 of the positive electrodes and make it possible to bring the points of the projections into close contact with the outer or external surfaces of the dielectrics and thus reduce materially the amount of current which is necessary to produce a given or predetermined amount of ozone.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ozone producing apparatus which is generally of new and improved construction and permits of quick and ready dismantlement of the various parts of the generating units for cleaning purposes.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present ozone apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the claim at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms 5 a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an ozone producing apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view showing in detail the manner in which the frames of the clamping structure serve releasably and conjointly to hold around the dielectrics the projection equippedplates which constitute the positive electrodes;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and exhibiting the manner in which the clamping structure serves to hold the generating units of the apparatus in laterally spaced relation; and

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the frames of the clamping structure of the apparatus.

The apparatus which forms the subject matter T of the invention is adapted to produce ozone for air purifying and other purposes and comprises a 25 group of three generating units 5, 6 and I, and a clamping structure 8 for holding the units horizontally and in laterally spaced or serially arranged relation.

The generating unit 5 consists of a dielectric 9, a negative electrode to, and a positive electrode I I. The dielectric is in the form of a glass tube, one end of which is closed in order to prevent air from passing or flowing therethrough and depositing dust on the inner face thereof. The negative electrode i0 is in the form of a cylindrical piece of sheet metal and is disposed within, and extends longitudinally of, the dielectric. The piece of sheet metal which forms or constitutes the negative electrode fits against the inner face of the dielectric and is pressed or clamped outwardly by means of a split ring I2 and a coil l3 of wire. The split ring I2 is disposed adjacent to the closed end of the dielectric and the wire coil i3 is positioned near the open end of the dielectric and has an end piece M which projects from the dielectric and is connected to a grounded bus bar I5. The positive electrode ll consistsof a pair of semi-cylindrical sheet metal plates l6 and is supplied with current by way so of a conductor H. The plates iii are held in clamped relation around the dielectric 9 by means of the clamping structure 8 and have instruck V-shaped projections l8. The latter are adapted u to engage the outer or external face of the dielectric and are preferably arranged in rows which extend lengthwise of the plates. When current or electrical energy is supplied to the positive electrode there is a brush discharge around the points of the projections l3. This discharge operates to produce ozone from the air whichis around or passes through the space between the dielectric and the plates l3 of the positive electrode.

The generating units6 and 1 are the same in design and construction as the unit 6, and as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the end pieces of the wire coilsfor holding the negative electrodes in place are attached to the grounded bus bar I5.

The clamping structure 8 for holding the generating units horizontally and in laterally spaced or serially arranged relation is mounted on a supporting panel i 9 and consists of an upper frame 20 and a lower frame 2|.

The upper frame 20 overlies the generating units 5, 6 and 1 and comprises a pair of laterally spaced, metallic straps 22 and a pair of crossbars 23. The straps 22 are shaped by a forming die or like instrumentality so that each embodies three substantially semicircular, seat-forming parts 24, 25 and 26 and a pair of flat connecting parts 21 and 28. The seat-forming parts 24 are located at one side of the frame 20 and extend over the upper end portions of the positive electrode ll of the generating unit 5. The seat-forming parts 26 are located at the other side of the frame 20 and encircle or extend over the upper end portions of the positive electrode of the generating unit 1. The substantially semicircular seat-forming parts 25 of the straps are disposed between the parts 24 and 26. They are connected to said parts 24 and 26 by the -flat connecting parts 21 and 28 and are adapted to extend over the upper end portions of the positive electrode of the intermediate generating unit 6. As shown in the drawing, the seat-forming parts 24, 25 and 26 of the straps are substantially equal as far as radius is concerned to the projection-equipped plates which constitute the outer or positive electrodes of the generating units. They are, however, less than in circumference. The straps 22 are held in laterally spaced relation by means of the crossbars 23. One of these bars extends between and is connected by rivets 23 to the flat connecting parts 21 of the straps and the other crossbar extends between and is connected by rivets 3|! to the flat connecting parts 28. The bars 23 are formed of metal and serve as conductors or electrical connections between the two straps 22.

The lower frame 2| is in the nature of a complement of the upper frame 20. It underlies the.

generating units 5, 6 and 1 and consists of a pair of laterally spaced, metallic straps 3| and a pair of metallic crossbars 32. The straps 3| are vertically aligned with the straps 22 of the frame 20 and are shaped by a forming die so that they embody three substantially semicircular seatforming parts 33, 34 and 35, and a pair of flat connecting parts 36 and 31. The parts 33 are located beneath the substantially. semicircular parts 24 of the straps 22 and extend under and around the lower end portions of the positive electrode ll of the generating unit 5. The seatforming parts 35 of the straps 3| underlie the parts 26 of the straps 22 and extend under and around the lower end portions of the positive electrode of the generating unit 1, The seat-forming parts 34 of the straps 3| are located between the parts 33 and 35. They are connected to the latter by the flat connecting parts 33 and 31 and extend under and around the lower end portions of the positive electrode of the generating unit 6. The crossbars 32 serve to hold the straps 3| in laterally spaced relation and also as connectors for said straps. Oneof the bars extends between and is connected by rivets 33 to the connecting parts 36 of the straps 3|. The other bar extends between and is connected by rivets 39 to the flat connecting parts 31 of the straps 3|. The lower frame 2| is connected to the supporting panel l3 by means of four legs 40. These legs serve to space the clamping structure from the panel and are formed by bending downwards and then inwards the ends of the straps 3|. Bolts 4| are carried by the panel l3 and extend through the inturned part of the legs so that they serve fixedly or rigidly to secure the lower frame 2| to the of the generating units is secured to one of the legs .40.

In addition to the upper frame 20 and the lower frame 2| the clamping structure comprises a. pairof bolts 42. These bolts are adapted to draw the two frames together and cause the straps of the frames to clamp the projectionequipped plates around the dielectrics of the generating units. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, thebolts 42 extend through the central portions of the crossbars of the two frames and are provided at their upper ends with nuts 43. By tightening these nuts it is possible so to urge together the frames that the projection-equipped plates are all firmly or tightly clamped against the dielectrics of the generating units regardless of any irregularity in the diameter of the dielectrics due to commercial variation. The seatforming parts 33, 34 and 35 of the straps 3| of the lower frame correspond as far as radius is concerned to the positive electrodes and are less than 180 in circumference so that the connecting parts 36 and 31 are spaced from the connecting parts 21 and 28 respectively and it is thus possible to exert any desired clamping pressure on the plates which constitute the positive electrodes. The clamping structure constitutes simple means for conjointly clamping the positive electrodes of the generating units against the dielectrics and thebolts 43 constitute simple means for adjustably drawing the frames of the clamping struc-v ture together in order to bring all of the V-shaped projections of the positive-electrode-forming plates into contact with the dielectrics. By providing means for bringing the points'of all of the projections into contact with the dielectrics the apparatus as a whole is exceedingly eflicient and requires but a minimum amount of current to produce a given or predetermined amount of ozone. When it is desired to dismantle the generating units for cleaning purposes it is only necessary to remove the nuts 43 from the bolts 42 and then remove the upper frame 20. By reason of the fact that the clamping structure includes the two frames which in effect serve as a multiple clamping unit the. generating units are spaced equidistantly apart and held in fixed relation.

Inasmuch as the ozone apparatus includes the improved clamping structure, it may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost and is exceptionally efficient as far as ozone production is concerned.

Whereas the apparatus has been described as 1 comprising three generating units and the clamping structure has been described as being adapted for three generating units it is to be understood that the apparatus may comprise any number .of generating units and that the clamping structure may be modified to accommodate and eifect conjoint clamping of the positive electrodes of any desired number of units. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An ozone apparatus comprising in combinatlon a series of side by side, equidistantly spaced ozone generating units each including a tubular dielectric and an electrode extending around the dielectric and consisting of complementally arranged arcuate metallic plates with instruct dielectric-engaging projections throughout substantially the entire area thereof; a combined clamping and unit-retaining structure consisting of a pair of oppositely facing complemental frames each of which embodies a pair of laterally spaced metallic straps shaped to form substantially semicircular unit-receiving parts and flat connecting parts between said receiving parts, metallic crossbars extending between, and secured at the ends thereof to, the connecting parts of the straps and operative to hold the straps in laterally spaced relation, and bolts extending through the central portions of the crossbars and adapted to draw the two frames together in order conjointly to clamp the plate-formed electrodes of the units around their respective dielectrics and to bring the projections of the plates into firm contact with the outer faces of the dielectrics; and a conductor attached to one or the frames for supplying current to the units.-

RAE R1. POWELL. 

